Secret footy star files available to AFL

(AAP) - Secret police files gathered on AFL players, coaches, board members and even staff have been made available to the league.


Victoria Police struck a deal with the league to share any records it has gathered
on AFL identities, including handing over photos and videos.
An AFL club president, civil liberties advocates and the state opposition have all
blasted the agreement as unprecedented, insulting invasion of privacy.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said the agreement is utterly disturbing.
"I cannot imagine any circumstance that would justify our police force handing over
its files to a sporting body," the former Victorian premier told AAP.
"It is a preposterous suggestion. It beggars belief that the AFL or any of their
personnel are entitled to police files for any reason."
He demanded to know how many files have been handed over and if AFL CEO Andrew
Demetriou is aware of it.
"I am absolutely gobsmacked by this," Mr Kennett said.
"It's almost unbelievable."
The seven-page document, released to AAP under freedom of information laws, states
that police "law enforcement data" can be handed over to the AFL.
"Law enforcement data may take the form of any text, images, audio and video, may be
stored on computing devices, in hard copy, or on other storage media, and includes
(but is not limited to) data related to individuals, aggregated data, written
reports and correspondence, memoranda, police diaries, official notebooks, running
sheets and other data repositories," the agreement says.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) reveals it was designed to share information
on a wide range of AFL identities: "Any player, member of the coaching staff, senior
executive of the AFL or any employee, servant or agent of the AFL having official
duties in relation to AFL matches."
The AFL Players' Association said players are entitled to privacy just like everyone
else.
"If information is disclosed openly then clearly we'd have some concerns," union
chief executive Matt Finnis told AAP.
"What's important is that there are limitations, protections and protocols put
around that agreement and it's only carried out when there's a justifiable reason
that pertains to the integrity of the competition."
Both the AFL and Victoria Police would not reveal the specific reasons the agreement
was struck but it's believed to be part of efforts to combat match fixing, gambling,
drug use and sexual assault.
"Basically, it has to do with any offence where a person can be charged," said AFL
spokesman Patrick Keane.
The reasons behind the agreement have also been censored from the MOU under the FOI
request.
Robin Davy, manager of the police department's FOI and privacy office, said such
details have to be kept secret because disclosing it would impact police
investigations.
Victoria Police released a statement describing the agreement as part of its efforts
to "generate an open and transparent line of communication" with the league.
The agreement was signed in September 2009 and covered the off-season.
Police say the agreement expired after four months, but the AFL says it is ongoing.
"Still in place," Mr Keane said.
Liberty Victoria president Michael Pearce SC said both the AFL and the police are
resorting to paranoia by peering into the private lives of citizens, let alone
during their holidays.
"This is extremely heavy-handed," he told AAP.
"There's serious implications here for workplace issues, whether the police ought to
be providing information of this kind to any employer."
Mr Pearce said the MOU is very similar to one struck between the police and the
private consortium building Victoria's $3.5 billion desalination plant to share
information on protesters.
That agreement is currently under investigation by the state's law reform committee
for possible breaches in privacy laws.
State opposition spokesman David Davis said the decision to share police files on
AFL figures is creating a "secret state" where "Victoria Police hands over dossiers
on citizens including AFL players to private companies".